Halloween was over and Thanksgiving loomed on the horizon; looking towards Christmas. Generally this would be an opportune time for CJ and her crew to spend their spare moments pulling a few practical jokes or setting up a friend or two. Not this year, this year they were seniors and college applications were due just after the holidays. The application process was a daunting one. Essays, forms and for some students interviews; CJ looked around at her class as they feverishly read through pamphlets and course guides thinking they had all lost their minds. The only conversation that was acceptable included; where are you going? What do you want to do? What are the minimum requirements to enter?

To CJ it was all a wash. She knew what she wanted and where she wanted to go. All the mattered was putting together a good application package so she got what she wanted. CJ if she got her wish was headed to Pennsylvania State University, University Park campus to study criminology and forensic science. She was going to be an Abby.

Abby's lab had always been a draw to CJ even when she was very young and then this past summer had solidified that love while working with her lab rat of a surrogate sister.

CJ knew that her parents had some reservations about her choice. Initially they were worried that the family's influence was such that CJ wasn't looking at all the options. Once CJ had dissuaded them of that notion then they were concerned about her choice of school. There was a fine University in DC that had the same program. Why did she have to go so far away to go to school?

"Dad" she growled "Penn State is rated number one in the country for criminology and forensic science, don't you want me to go to the best?"

"That's not it and you know it" he ground back with as much frustration as his daughter.

"Then what is it?" she spat out, pouting and slouching further down in the couch while he stood over her hands folded across his chest.

"CJ you'll barely be 18 by the time you leave next fall and…" he didn't get to finish his sentence before CJ stood turned towards him with purpose and anger before snarling "Uncle Gibbs was fighting for his country in the desert at 18. I think I can handle a university dorm room" before storming out of the room and up to her sanctuary.

This was not the only conversation that had occurred but it was the most aggressive. The rest had the same tenor and neither side was willing to move. What Tony didn't realize was that his daughter had applied to several locations and that George Washington was one of them. It was her back up plan she'd told Steven.

The last of these conversations happened just before Christmas holidays when Steven had through self preservation offered to help Ziva in the kitchen that he told his girlfriend's mother that CJ had in fact already applied to George Washington and why.

"Ms. David?" he started.

"Yes Steven?"

"Can I … can I say something?" his hesitancy noticeable in both his voice and body language.

"Of course you can Steven you are always welcome in our home" Ziva prompted.

Maybe not after I say what I'm about to say Steven thought to himself before he spoke.

"Look. CJ is not going to bend on this." He said thumbing in the direction of the living room where father and daughter's voices could be heard getting louder and more shrill.

Ziva forced out a laugh. She too understood this point and didn't need this kid to tell her that.

"You should know that CJ has applied to several universities around the country including University of California, Davis campus, Penn state and GEORGE WASHINGTON" raising his eyebrows so that this woman understood what he meant. "She" he pointed again over his shoulder "says it's her back up plan, she sees it as failing to go to George Washington, everyone of our friends left the state to go to school and CJ wants that as well. She wants the adventure, she wants the independence, she wants to be like everyone else in at least this ONE thing" Steven paused as his voice was becoming louder and more emotional and he wanted to get a hold of it before CJ realized what was happening in the kitchen.

Ziva stood frozen, unable to move or respond. She hadn't realized any of this; CJ had never said anything like that in any of their conversations. If Ziva thought about it for even a few seconds she would come to the conclusion that they hadn't really left it open for such a discussion to take place.

"So… you don't really want her to go to George Washington… if she does it means she sees herself has having failed… not being able to get into the university of her choice… or not being able to convince you she needs to go away to school… you want her to go away… well… I know you don't but you should want it for her… " he'd stopped looking at Ziva some time ago and was cutting up the veggies for the salad with great vigor.

Ziva gently took Steven by the shoulder and turned him to look into her face. With a smile and a nod she quietly said "Thank you for your honesty Steven, I do appreciate it" and with that she hugged him as she would hug her own child. This young man in front of her had grown from a small boy CJ had dragged home one of the first days of school asking if she could keep him, as if he was a puppy.

Tony and CJ heard gales of laughter coming into the kitchen and not bothering to continued their own unproductive exchange headed towards the noise.

"What's so funny?" Tony asked his daughter only a step behind him.

"We were just remembering the first time we'd met" Steven explained. CJ smiled recalling that moment as well. Tony not having been home at the time needed some clarification.

CJ began the story "It would have been when we were in" she didn't get to finish before Steven said "Grade 1". "Ya, grade one. Miss Cambridge was adamant that you finish your homework every day and hand it in on time."

"But for some reason… I don't remember why now… I hadn't done it… or more likely had forgotten it at home… so she had written a note home that I needed to get signed… I was devastated…"

"I had heard the exchange in the classroom… but I didn't know Steven very well… he was a boy … and they were gross…" everyone laughed as CJ put on a whiny voice and scrunched up her nose in disgust as she said it.

"But at the end of the day when I was leaving school to walk home I found Steven crying under the jungle gym. He was worried about going home with a note. I totally understood his predicament as I too wouldn't want to be in that situation. So I thought I could solve it."

"By bringing him home with you and asking if you could keep him as a pet. You promised to feed him and take him to school every day without being reminded." Ziva laughed picturing CJ feeding Steven and taking him to school with her like a puppy. "When the pair of you walked through the door you were a mess, you had taken the long way home through the woods concocting the plan. So Steven really did look like a waif in need of a home."

The four stood around the counter finishing preparations of tonight's meal while CJ and Steven finished retelling how Ziva had called Lieutenant Arnott and his wife explaining the situation and that their son was safe. Later after CJ had fed him a snack Ziva walked him home with CJ's help.

The following morning CJ was at the end of Steven's driveway in time to walk him to school. From that point forward he really had followed her around like a puppy. He helped her as much as she helped him.

They'd been through grade school bullying, middle school drama and high school trials together. The future lay before them and neither knew where that was going to lead.